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BUFFALO—The challenge was issued — both publicly and privately — to Jonathan Bernier to be better. And the Maple Leafs goalie responded with his best performance of the season.

The Maple Leafs got a point Wednesday night, but ultimately fell 2-1 in a shootout to the Buffalo Sabres.

And in a season where progress will be measured in tiny incremental steps, the difference in Bernier’s ability to stop the puck, even in the first period, stood out.

“I just really wanted to come out and be focussed all night,” Bernier said. “We did a good job clearing the net, and on rebounds. I was just trying to play big. I feel good about that.

“I’m frustrated we didn’t get the win.”

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Bernier stopped 34 of 35 shots, allowing only Evander’s Kane goal with 4:29 remaining in the third that sent the game to overtime.

The 3-on-3 solved nothing — it was the only period dominated by the Leafs — and Matt Moulson scored the shootout winner. The Leafs are 0-2 in shootouts this season.

Bernier had been under the gun for allowing the first goal of the game in his first two starts. Coach Mike Babcock called him out on it.

“He challenged me behind doors too,” Bernier said. “That’s part of the job. I’ve got to be better. You can’t take it too personally. He just wants you to be better. I tried to do my best.”

Bernier even tried to get in on the offence on the 3-on-3, calling for the puck from Morgan Rielly, getting it, and sending Nazem Kadri in on a scoring chance.

“Our goaltender was really strong, which is important for us moving ahead,” Babcock said. “It’s important for him and he’s got to feel good, so that’s a good thing.”

The Leafs’ problem was a lack of scoring. P.A. Parenteau got his first goal as a Leaf, 1:28 into the game. But that was it as the Leafs seemed to fall back and defend rather than continue the kind of attacking game Babcock espouses.

“It was nice to play with the lead, but we stopped playing for a bit after we got the lead,” Bernier said.

The Leafs were outshot for just the second time this season, this time by a wide margin, 35-24.

“I thought we gave up too many shots,” said defenceman Matt Hunwick. “Usually, we’re on the other end of that shot total. We didn’t have the puck enough in the offensive zone and, consequently, we played a little more (in the defensive) zone than we wanted to.”

A sore point for the Maple Leafs was a high stick on captain Dion Phaneuf by Kane on a big, mid-ice hit in the third period. Phaneuf fell to the ice and bled down his jersey. His upper lip needed three or four stitches. But the on-ice officials didn’t see it, so they didn’t call it.

Given the Sabres had four power plays and the Leafs had one, that didn’t sit well with the coaching staff. The Leafs were up 1-0 at the time.

“I don’t understand,” Babcock said. “We should have been on the power play for four minutes in the third, and we weren’t at all, so that’s disappointing. It’s also part of life.”

The Leafs showed some of the puck-possession style Babcock has been pushing in the second period. But Buffalo dominated in the first and third, when Toronto was heavily outshot.

“The big thing is they’re listening every day,” Babcock said before the game. “They’ve been great. They try to get better each and every day. That doesn’t guarantee you success.

“I like the majority of things we’re trying to do, we’ve just had some lapses.”

Even Sabres coach Dan Bylsma, who has his own rebuilding job in front of him, is impressed with what Babcock has done with the Leafs so far.

“I played for him for two years and coached a lot of games against him,” Bylsma said. “You’re getting a team that will play in the offensive zone come hell or high water. Playing there, staying there and being aggressive there. That’s what he’s going to grind into his team.”

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